Archive for July, 2011
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FS COURBET completes Operation ATALANTA
On July 28th, after sixty days proudly serving under the European Flag, the French Frigate FS COURBET completed her participation as an EU NAVFOR warship in Operation ATALANTA. During the period, FS Courbet has conducted a multiplicity of tasks in the force, primarily conducting the EU NAVFOR’s main mission of escorting World...
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MV JUBBA XX RELEASED OFF THE COAST OF SOMALIA
It has been reported by the owners that the MV JUBBA XX, a small tanker reported pirated on 16 July, was released on 27 July off the coast of Somalia following intervention by Puntland officials and tribal elders and all the crew are...
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HANDOVER OF DEPUTY COMMANDER EU NAVFOR
On 22 July 2011, Rear Admiral Guido Rando, Italian Navy, handed over the responsibility of the Deputy Operation Commander of the European Union Naval Force Somalia, Op ATALANTA, to Rear Admiral Christian Canova, French Navy. The handover was conducted in the Operational Headquarters (OHQ) in Northwood near London. As he departed,...
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EU NAVFOR French warship Courbet completes another successful World Food Programme escort
On the 19th of July, EU NAVFOR French Frigate Courbet completed another safe and successful escort of a World Food Programme (WFP) vessel from Kenya to Somalia, enabling much needed food-aid to reach the country where a famine has been declared. Since December 2008, the European Union’s first navy operation, Operation...
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2011 PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITION
To record the work of Operation ATALANTA and to increase the library of related photographs, all the officers, sailors and marines involved in the protection of World Food Programme and other vulnerable ships in the Indian Ocean were invited to take part in a photographic competition in which the photographs had to...
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MV JUBBA XX PIRATED IN THE NORTHERN INDIAN OCEAN
Late on the morning of 16 July, it was reported by the owners that the MV JUBBA XX, a laden tanker, had been pirated in the northern Indian Ocean, on her regular route from the United Arab Emirates to the port of Berbera, Somalia. On the morning of 17...
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Spanish Minister of Defense visits EU NAVFOR warship in Djibouti
On the 7th of July, the Spanish Minister of Defence, Carme Chacon, accompanied by the Chief of Defense, General José Julio Rodriguez, visited the Spanish frigate ESPS Santa María during her port visit in Djibouti. The Minister was received by the Commanding Officer, Commander Gonzalo Parente, who briefed on counter piracy capabilities...
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EU NAVFOR Force Commander visits Operation Ocean Shield’s Flag Ship
On the 4th of July, EU NAVFOR Force Commander, Commodore Alberto Correia met Rear Admiral Gualtiero Mattesi, Commander of the NATO Counter-piracy Taskforce onboard the Italian destroyer ITS Andrea Doria, whilst patrolling the International Recommended Traffic Corridor in the Gulf of Aden. The meeting gave both commanders the opportunity to share their...
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CHINESE WARSHIP ESCORTS WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME SHIP TO SOMALIA
The Chinese PLA(Navy) warship MA’ANSHAN (FFG525) has today completed the first port-to-port escort of a World Food Programme (WFP) cargo ship into Somalia through the Gulf of Aden. The M/V DREAM was carrying a cargo of 5,900 tonnes of food-aid which included maize and oil and had previously unloaded part of...
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VISIT TO THE OPERATIONAL HEADQUARTERS BY THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
Members of the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee visited the EU NAVFOR HQ at Northwood on 30 Jun as part of their inquiry into piracy off the coast of Somalia. They were met by Major General Howes (EU NAVFOR Operation Commander) and Rear Admiral Ort (Chief of Staff NATO Maritime Component)...